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CRAZYDIAMOND AFRICA
EMOTIONAL WELLBEING AND TRAINING CONSULTANCY
Julius Amba Otieno - Director crazydiamond AfricaEmail: globalfig2_yahoo.comJulius holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences with a bias in sociology and is presently pursuing ACCA Qualifications. From 1999 to July 2001 he was the founder and Executive officer of National Youth Organization, a voluntary organization working in collaboration with the government departments and internal agencies to bring together Youth Groups interested in development, capacity building, advancement and promoting the general improvement of youth welfare. He was also the Programmes officer of Flag Intra Global, an international non-governmental organization headquartered in Kenya. It is focused on mitigating/alleviating poverty in Africa and Kenya in particular through various community participatory initiatives for instance through a twinning concept in which communities from the developed world are hooked up with their counterparts from the developing world through group centred micro-publishing teams. Unfortunately, sustaining this programme met setbacks.In June 2006– to the present time, Julius was singled out by the community and requested to serve as a member of the board of governors for the Kobala Mixed Secondary School and upon acceptance, it was consummated through a government official letter of appointment by the minister of education. He has since joined the Directorate.In 2007 together with a few friends, some drawn from academic circles, he formed a central body called the Association of Heads of Civil Society to bring together the leadership of non- governmental organizations community based organizations (otherwise known in the UK as voluntary organizations/third sector outfits) to a round table for purposes of exploring common interest that would lead to effective existence of such players. It was as a result of this initiative that he later secured a commonwealth scholarship to the UK to foster better understanding of how such voluntary organizations run their affairs particularly in areas such as: • Capacity building to individuals/Communities Networking and its benefits• Project management; stakeholders’ engagement• Project collaboration; global bonding• Enhancing third sector involvement in the delivery of citizen-centered services• Working across public sector boundaries• Public, private partnership initiatives in service deliveryJulius volunteers as Executive Secretary for Osodo Kawere Development Society which is based in Nairobi and that caters for the institutional development and welfare of its members. He is also the patron of Kawere Widows Self Help group that comprises basically of widows most of whom are living with the HIV virus.In 2010 Julius was invited to become Associate member of crazydiamond, a mental health training organization which has gained international renown and respect for its values, knowledge and research, particularly in the key areas of Recovery and Thriving.Julius says -I am also the patron of Kawere widows self help group that comprises basically of widows most of whom are living with the HIV virus.Inspite of my horrible circumstances; I have these ladies in my mind all the times. They have kids and I feel if they live well and longer they will nurture their kids to maturity. Together with Paula, we intend to put up an orphanage for such kids. I know of a grandmother left behind with her grandchildren and she is going recently turned blind and there is no one to step in to assist her regain her sight. Marion, mine with my family is a constant stress but I feel sad that my empathy with this poor lady can not be actualized in action through facilitation of hospitalization. I did, however, send some little money for help from the money sent to me by Marion and Mike recently.In retrospective, I was assisted in my education by a well-wisher when I lost my dad in 1986 while still in high school and I just cant help but have irreducible empathy with orphans and wish to assist in every way possible.Challanges are enormous and I am yet to succeed in this dream.Sometime last year I was approached by a community based children learning and feeding centre here in Nairobi to join the directorship of Great Hope Learning Centre-mostly Kenyas post election violence victims; OVC-and inspite my reluctance they persisted and I did finally accept to join in helping but it has been terrible. The photos that I sent out to you, where I was on top of some building were actually taken at the centre but the landlord has been unhelpful yet the building is far from completion. Here feeding programme is the single most serious challenge, and whereas food is lacking a lot of these kids always say they long for day break I order to be back to school to feed because they hardly get any foods with their carers who are equally very poor, sometimes sick ling. Here again, young souls cant be helped to attain education.At personal level and in collaboration with others, I strongly feel crazydiamond International and Elemental Kenya will take shape and will address very pertinent issues with far reaching positive out comes.I had the opportunity now to read print outs from the materials you sent and am way above what I have been in terms of understanding the concept.It fits well with my current state. Since 2008, things have been a bit hectic and this has occasioned severe distress to both my wife and me. As the head of this family of three daughters, I feign that all is well but in my privacy, I really feel it. My wife actually succumbed to this pressure and she has been ailing since around March this year and was diagnosed with high blood pressure which she is still fighting. We have had to make a few drastic changes like shifting the two kids to a new school.For most part of late 2008 till early 2009, I would be carrying palliative drugs in my pockets but it dawned upon me that at that rate I would affect myself and I had to begin a new thinking and even though all is still way off the balance I am happy that I did dispense with the daily use of drugs; I now take once in a while just when am extremely stressed up especially around month ends when utility bills and childrens school fees obligations come forth.I am seeing my involvement with elemental as that which is founded on my personal experience that affects my wife individually and my self too as an individual, and this I feel is a credible thresh hold.Parting shotFrom the few discussions that I have made so far, I think it will go a long way in opening a new chapter in peoples thinking about the general state of mental health and how this affects the totality of mankinds overall health status.I would therefore not mince words but put it straight that you are forming a team of the 21st century that need not only the support of governments but it is the kind of league that all need to play in.If it is not for professional pride, health practitioners should all come on board so that we chart a new realistic and self sustaining course for mankinds well being. Individuals have the unique privilege to discern their own state of affairs, and by engaging the gear of self assessment, will spontaneously cure themselves without recourse to conventional medicine.
Julius, Marion and Mike delivered Mental Health training in Nairobi and outlying villages across Kenya in Spring 2010. The THRIVE Approach was well received by nurses, counsellors, N.G.O's and churches. Julius is now developing Recovery and THRIVE in Kenya.
EleMental Great Hope School - For Your Babies, Simply Red
MADAid flyer Nov 2011.doc
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